Separation of valuable minerals from material found in the beds of bodies of water

Abstract

A device for removal of solid materials from the beds of bodies of water and the separation and capture of materials having a relatively high specific gravity from lighter solid material. The device is particularly suitable for the extraction of gold from alluvial material. The device is small and lightweight and generally comprises a pipe having an open inlet end and an open outlet end. The pipe has a first opening and a second opening that communicate with a container attached to the pipe. A suction force is applied along the length of the pipe so that water and materials from the bed of the body of water enter the pipe. That material having a relatively high specific gravity is collected within the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for separating a portion of entrained solid materials from a stream of fluid of the type primarily for use in combination with a pump, said device comprising: a pipe comprising a wall, an open inlet end, an open outlet end and an interior, said wall having a first opening and a second opening therethrough, and said pipe further comprising a mid portion, an inlet portion including said inlet end, and an outlet portion including said outlet end;   a container comprising a hollow body having an interior, a bottom, at least one side, and an open top, said open top being attached to said pipe such that said interior of said pipe is in fluid flow communication with said interior of said container through each of said first and second openings;   a suction means attached to said pipe providing suction at said inlet end, whereby the fluid and the materials are drawn into said inlet end of said pipe, a portion of the stream of fluid and material passing through said mid portion of said pipe and out said outlet end, and the remaining portion of the stream of fluid and material passing through said first opening, a portion of the material being captured in said container and the remaining portion of the fluid and material passing through said second opening and out said outlet end; and   an agitation means comprising at least one tube having a first end and a second end, said first end of said tube passing through said side of said container so that at least a portion of said tube extends into said container, said tube being spaced apart from said bottom of said container, said portion of said tube within said container having at least one aperture therein, and said second end of said tube being adapted for connection to a pump means whereby fluid is pumped through said aperture to agitate the materials captured in said container.   
     
     
       2. A device as in claim 1 wherein a portion of said wall of said pipe that is intermediate said first opening and said second opening is offset inwardly in relation to said pipe interior. 
     
     
       3. A device as in claim 1 wherein said apertures open generally toward said bottom of said container. 
     
     
       4. A device as in claim 1 wherein said suction means comprises: at least one hole in said wall of said device;   a hose having a first end and a second end, said first end being attached to said hole such that said hose is in fluid flow communication with said interior of said pipe, said second end of said hose adapted for connection to a pump means, and   wherein said agitation means comprises a first tube and a second tube each having first and second ends, said first end of each one of said tubes being connected in fluid flow communication with said hose, said second end of each one of said tubes extending through a portion of said side of said container and through an opposing portion of said side, said second ends then being joined to one another in fluid flow communication, said tubes being spaced apart from one another and from said bottom of said container, and said portion of each said tube intermediate said opposing portions of said side of said container having at least one aperture therein.   
     
     
       5. A device as in claim 4 wherein said apertures open generally toward said bottom of said container. 
     
     
       6. A device as in claim 1 wherein said suction means comprises: at least one hole in said wall of said device;   a hose having a first end and a second end, said first end being attached to said hole such that said hose is in fluid flow communication with said interior of said pipe, said second end of said hose adapted for connection to a pump means whereby fluid is pumped under pressure into said pipe and out said outlet end.   
     
     
       7. A device as in claim 1 wherein said device further comprises: a means for excluding a portion of said material from entering said container. 
     
     
       8. A device as in claim 7 wherein said means for excluding comprises a screen extending across said first opening in said pipe. 
     
     
       9. A device as in claim 1 wherein a circumference of said mid portion of said pipe intermediate said first opening and said inlet portion of said pipe is greater than a circumference of said inlet portion of said pipe. 
     
     
       10. A device as in claim 1 wherein a circumference of said mid portion of said pipe intermediate said second opening and said outlet portion is greater than the circumference of said outlet portion of said pipe. 
     
     
       11. A device as in claim 1 wherein said container further comprises at least one port through said bottom of said container and a means for closing and opening said port removably attachable to said container. 
     
     
       12. (Amended) A device for separating a portion of entrained solid materials from a stream of fluid of the type primarily for use in combination with a pump, said device comprising: a pipe comprising a wall, an open inlet end, an open outlet end and an interior, said wall having a first opening and a second opening therethrough, and said pipe further comprising a mid portion, an inlet portion including said inlet end, and an outlet portion including said outlet end, a portion of said wall of said pipe that is intermediate said first opening and said second opening being offset inwardly in relation to said pipe interior such that said intermediate portion of said pipe defines a reduced circumference;   a container comprising a hollow body having an interior, a bottom, at least one side, and an open top, said open top being attached to said pipe such that said interior of said pipe is in fluid flow communication with said interior of said container through each of said first and second openings; and   a suction means attached to said pipe providing suction at said inlet end, whereby the fluid and the materials are drawn into said inlet end of said pipe, a portion of the stream of fluid and material passing through said mid portion of said pipe and out said outlet end, and the remaining portion of the stream of fluid and material passing through said first opening, a portion of the material being captured in said container and the remaining portion of the fluid and material passing through said second opening and out said outlet end.   
     
     
       13. A device as in claim 12 further comprising at least one tube having a first end and a second end, said first end of said tube passing through said side of said container so that at least a portion of said tube extends into said container, said tube being spaced apart from said bottom of said container, said portion of said tube within said container having at least one aperture therein, and said second end of said tube being adapted for connection to a pump means, whereby fluid is pumped through said aperture to agitate the materials captured in said container. 
     
     
       14. A device as in claim 13 wherein said apertures open generally toward said bottom of said container. 
     
     
       15. A device as in claim 12 wherein said suction means comprises; at least one hole in said wall of said device;   a hose having a first end and a second end, said first end being attached to said hole such that said hose is in fluid flow communication with said interior of said pipe, said second end of said hose adapted for connection to a pump means, whereby fluid is pumped under pressure into said pipe and out said outlet end.   
     
     
       16. A device as in claim 12 wherein a circumference of said mid portion of said pipe intermediate said first opening and said inlet portion of said pipe is greater than a circumference of said inlet portion of said pipe. 
     
     
       17. A device as in claim 12 wherein a circumference of said mid portion of said pipe intermediate said second opening and said outlet portion is greater than the circumference of said outlet portion of said pipe.